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Chapter 4 Dynamics processors 98
Noise Gate
Noise Gate overview
Noise Gate is commonly used to suppress unwanted noise that is audible when the audio signal
is at a low level. You can use it to remove background noise, crosstalk from other signal sources,
and low-level hum, among other uses.
Noise Gate works by allowing signals above the threshold level to pass unimpeded, while
reducing signals below the threshold level. This eectively removes lower-level parts of the
signal, while allowing the desired parts of the audio to pass.
Noise Gate parameters
•
Threshold slider and eld: Drag to set the threshold level. Signals that fall below the threshold
are reduced in level.
•
Reduction slider and eld: Drag to set the amount of signal reduction.
•
Attack knob and eld: Rotate to set the time it takes to fully open the gate after the signal
exceeds the threshold.
•
Hold knob and eld: Rotate to set the time the gate is kept open after the signal falls below
the threshold.
•
Release knob and eld: Rotate to set the time it takes to reach maximum attenuation after the
signal falls below the threshold.
•
Hysteresis slider and eld: Drag to set the dierence (in decibels) between the threshold values
that open and close the gate. This prevents the gate from rapidly opening and closing when
the input signal level is close to the threshold level.
•
Lookahead slider and eld: Drag to set how far ahead Noise Gate analyzes the incoming signal,
allowing the eect to respond more quickly to peak levels.
•
Monitor button: Turn on to hear the side-chain signal, including the eect of the High Cut and
Low Cut lters.
•
High Cut slider and eld: Drag to set the upper cuto frequency for the side-chain signal.
•
Low Cut slider and eld: Drag to set the lower cuto frequency for the side-chain signal.
Note: When no external side chain is selected, the input signal is used as the side chain.